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Regions of Italy - The Italian Regions

Regions of Italy - The Italian Regions

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Italy is a treasure trove of history, art, and natural beauty, divided into 20 diverse regions. Each region has its own unique identity, from the snow-capped peaks of the Alps to the sparkling Mediterranean coastline. In this article, we’ll explore the highlights of Italy’s regions, offering a glimpse into their culture, cuisine, and must-see attractions.

Northern Italy: Majestic Mountains and Cosmopolitan Charm

Piedmont

Nestled at the foot of the Alps, Piedmont is renowned for its world-class wines, such as Barolo and Barbaresco. Turin, the region’s capital, boasts baroque architecture, historic cafes, and the iconic Mole Antonelliana.

Lombardy

Home to Milan, Italy’s fashion and financial hub, Lombardy combines modernity with tradition. Visit Lake Como for breathtaking views or explore the Renaissance beauty of Bergamo.

Veneto

Famous for Venice and its romantic canals, Veneto also offers the Prosecco Hills, Verona’s Roman amphitheater, and the Dolomites for skiing and hiking.

Trentino-Alto Adige

A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, this alpine region features stunning lakes and mountain vistas. Its blend of Italian and Austrian influences is reflected in its cuisine and culture.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Bordering Slovenia, this lesser-known gem is a fusion of Italian, Slavic, and Austrian traditions. Trieste, the capital, is a coastal city with a rich literary history.

Central Italy: History, Art, and Timeless Landscapes

Tuscany

The epitome of Italian beauty, Tuscany’s rolling hills, vineyards, and medieval towns like Siena and San Gimignano captivate visitors. Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is a cultural treasure trove.

Umbria

Often called the “Green Heart of Italy,” Umbria charms with its hilltop towns, like Assisi and Perugia, and its robust culinary traditions, including truffles and Sagrantino wine.

Lazio

Dominated by Rome, the Eternal City, Lazio offers a journey through millennia of history. Beyond the capital, you’ll find serene lakes, ancient ruins, and lush countryside.

Marche

Marche’s unspoiled coastline and rolling hills are dotted with picturesque villages. Urbino, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a Renaissance gem worth visiting.

Southern Italy: Sun-Kissed Shores and Vibrant Traditions

Campania

Home to Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and the ruins of Pompeii, Campania offers a feast for the senses. Savor authentic Neapolitan pizza and explore its dramatic coastline.

Apulia (Puglia)

Known for its olive oil, baroque towns like Lecce, and the unique trulli houses of Alberobello, Apulia is a vibrant and sunny region with a rich agricultural heritage.

Calabria

At the toe of Italy’s boot, Calabria boasts rugged mountains and pristine beaches. Its cuisine features spicy ‘nduja sausage and fresh seafood.

Basilicata

This off-the-beaten-path region is home to Matera, a city of ancient cave dwellings and a European Capital of Culture. Basilicata’s rugged landscapes are truly breathtaking.

The Islands: Mediterranean Magic

Sicily

Sicily’s diverse history is reflected in its architecture, from Greek temples to Norman cathedrals. Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, dominates the landscape.

Sardinia

Famed for its turquoise waters and white sand beaches, Sardinia is a paradise for sun-seekers. Inland, you’ll find ancient nuraghe stone structures and a rich pastoral culture.

The Smaller Regions: Hidden Gems

Liguria

Stretching along the Italian Riviera, Liguria is famous for the colorful villages of Cinque Terre and its fresh basil pesto.

Emilia-Romagna

A gastronomic haven, Emilia-Romagna is the birthplace of Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, and balsamic vinegar. Bologna, its capital, is a lively university city.

Abruzzo

Abruzzo’s national parks, medieval castles, and Adriatic beaches offer a mix of adventure and relaxation. Its cuisine features hearty dishes and excellent Montepulciano wine.

Molise

Italy’s second-smallest region is often overlooked but brims with unspoiled nature, ancient traditions, and a slow-paced way of life.

Valle d’Aosta

The smallest region in Italy, Valle d’Aosta is a paradise for skiers and hikers. Its medieval castles and French-Italian cuisine add to its allure.

Discover Italy’s Diversity

From the grandeur of Rome to the serene countryside of Umbria and the sun-drenched beaches of Sardinia, Italy’s regions offer endless opportunities for exploration. Whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, or an outdoor adventurer, there’s a corner of Italy waiting to capture your heart.

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Regions & Provinces

Select a region to view its provinces. Use the filter to jump by name or code.

Abruzzo 4

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Valle d’Aosta 1

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Basilicata 2

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Calabria 5

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Campania 5

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Emilia-Romagna 9

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Friuli-Venezia Giulia 4

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Lazio 6

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Liguria 4

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Lombardy 12

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Marche 5

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Molise 2

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Piedmont 8

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Puglia 6

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Sardinia 5

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Sicily 9

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Trentino-Alto Adige 2

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Tuscany 10

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Umbria 2

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Veneto 7

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Places Dossier

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Italy

A compact place-reference: regions, settlements, landscapes, protected areas, and heritage — designed to sit beneath articles.

Regions Towns & Cities Landscapes Heritage
Italy — places feature image
Italy by territory: how the country breaks down, what to look for, and how landscapes and heritage shape the map.

Italy — places snapshot

Stable reference signals for quick geographic orientation.

Regions

20

Five have special autonomous status, reflecting distinct languages, history, and geography. Regions shape administration, services, and identity — often the most useful “map unit” for travellers and readers.

2nd-level

110

Provinces and metropolitan city authorities that coordinate planning, roads, schools, and territorial services. The role varies by area, but they remain a key layer between region and comune.

Comuni

7,904

The municipal building blocks of Italy — cities, towns, villages, and mountain communities. Local identity is strongly comune-based, and many services and permissions are handled at this level.

National parks

25

State-level protected areas covering alpine massifs, forests, volcanic zones, islands, and coastlines. They anchor biodiversity protection and define some of Italy’s most distinctive natural landscapes.

Highest peak

~4,806 m

Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) on the border with France — the highest summit in the Alps. Italy’s high mountains influence climate, watersheds, and seasonal travel patterns across the north.

Largest lake

~370 km²

Lake Garda, spanning multiple regions, is the largest Italian lake by surface area. Northern lakes act as microclimate zones and long-standing settlement and resort corridors.

Longest river

652 km

The Po runs west–east across the northern plain, shaping agriculture, industry, and major transport routes. It defines Italy’s largest lowland system and a dense belt of settlement and production.

UNESCO

61

World Heritage properties spread across historic centres, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, and natural areas. The density of listed places makes heritage a visible, lived layer of the national territory.

Regions

Twenty Italies, one map

Regions are the primary lens for variation: dialects, food cultures, building styles, and everyday rhythms often track regional boundaries. They also structure administration and public services, so “where you are” has practical effects as well as cultural ones. For orientation, region is often the fastest way to understand the landscape, the cuisine, and the character of a place.

Towns & Cities

A network of centres

Italy is organised as a network of historic cities and thousands of comuni rather than a single dominant urban core. Larger cities concentrate infrastructure and institutions, while smaller towns preserve local craft, festivals, and distinctive street patterns. This creates short-distance variety: a few kilometres can shift language, architecture, food, and landscape.

Landscapes

Mountains, plains, coasts

The Alps and Apennines frame the country, with plains, lakes, islands, and long coastlines producing sharp local contrasts. Terrain shapes climate, agriculture, and settlement density — and it also governs travel time far more than straight-line distance suggests. Italy’s landscape is best read as a mosaic of micro-regions, each with its own feel and seasonal rhythm.

Heritage

Layers you can visit

Heritage in Italy is embedded: Roman routes, medieval walls, and Renaissance centres are often part of living neighbourhoods. Archaeology appears both as major sites and as fragments — a column, a gate, a street plan — folded into modern life. The experience is less “museum-only” and more a continuous encounter with past layers in active places.

Italy regions
Regions
Italy towns and cities
Towns & Cities
Italy landscapes
Landscapes
Italy heritage sites
Heritage
Italy national parks, lakes, rivers and mountains

Natural

Parks, peaks, water, islands

Italy’s protected landscapes range from alpine ridgelines and deep forests to volcanic terrain and island coastlines. National parks anchor biodiversity and define some of the country’s most iconic routes and viewpoints, while lakes and rivers organise settlement and mobility corridors. The natural map explains climate shifts, local agriculture, and why certain places became historic crossroads, resort zones, or remote refuges.

Italy archaeological sites

Archaeology

From ruins to living streets

Archaeology in Italy is geographic: Greek colonies in the south, Etruscan centres in central regions, Roman infrastructure nationwide, and medieval layers almost everywhere. Some sites are monumental, but many traces appear as everyday fragments — walls, gates, amphitheatres, road alignments — integrated into modern towns. This is why “place” in Italy often includes time: landscapes and settlements carry multiple eras in the same view.